ONE Somerset MP has pledged her support for Back British Farming Day today (September 11). 

Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, said she will 'stand up' for farmers and rural communities. 

“Farmers were taken for granted so badly under the last Conservative Government. Now as a Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton I will stand up for our farmers and rural communities," she said.

"The previous Conservative Government, through incompetence and indifference, failed to support farmers in our community. The new government has to do the right thing and provide farmers with the fair deal they deserve. 

“Liberal Democrats back British farmers. At the General Election, we called for a £1bn a year funding boost for our farmers and we’ll keep holding the new government to account.”

Back British Farming Day is organised by the NFU and is in its ninth year. Today, the NFU will hold its annual reception in the House of Commons where MPs and peers will be able to drop in and show their support. 

Today in the House of Commons, Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “enshrine a national food security target in law”.

Mr Sunak told the Commons: “Today is back British farming day, where we recognise that British farmers produce food that is higher quality, has higher welfare standards and higher environmental standards than imported food, and at a time of increasing global volatility, they are also crucial for our food security and national security.

“Can (the Prime Minister) confirm, therefore, whether he will be adopting the NFU (National Farmers’ Union) recent proposal to enshrine a national food security target in law?”

Sir Keir replied: “Food security is really important.

“I’m glad he’s raised that, we have talked to the NFU about this, and rural issues are really important, and that’s what we fought the election on, and why we’ve got a lot of rural constituencies sitting behind me now, we continue to talk to NFU we do take food security, very, very seriously.”

  • What is most important to you this Back British Farming Day? Tell us in the comments! 👇